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Caution, this blog may make you rethink your traditional religious understanding of the Bible. It will help you fall more radically in love with a loving and gracious Father!

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. Hebrews 7:25

We have been in an extended study of our eternally secure relationship with God. I am endeavoring to cover all areas of this important and vital subject. It is vital to know and understand that you can never lose your salvation. One's relationship can never grow or be strong when there is a chance that the relationship can be severed.

Loving it, leaving it or losing it.

The title of our series explains it all. We love the Lord and rejoice knowing our salvation is secure. The two objections to eternal security is that we can leave our salvation or we can lose it by our deeds. As we began last time I am addressing the false idea we can leave or walk away from God. So let's look at two more passages that some believe promote the idea we can leave our salvation.

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23

I must admit when I was a babe in Christ this passage terrified me. Why? Because taken at face value and out of context it left me wondering who then can be saved? Who then can have assurance of their salvation? I thank God I found the truth when studying the Word in context and in the original Greek.

The Objection to eternal security goes something like this; these people Jesus is talking to worked miracles in His name. This must mean they were once born again and now lost. Is this correct? If one only read this passage in context and define the words properly you know this argument is erroneous.

In context Jesus began addressing false prophets and false teachers. Of course, under the influence of demonic activity some appear to be working miracles. It isn't the genuine power of God. So that is the first clue this isn't talking about believers.

Secondly, Jesus stated clearly that He never knew them. Never means what? Never! Jesus did not say I once knew you but now I don't. He stated clearly, I never knew you. The literal Greek gives even more clear a definition of this word. Never means never, not at all and not at any time. If He never knew these folk, then they could not have been once saved and now lost. This is a very weak objection to our eternally secure salvation.

Now the strongest objection of leaving one's salvation is this next passage.

This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,We shall also live with Him.If we endure,We shall also reign with Him.If we deny Him,He also will deny us.If we are faithless,He remains faithful;He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13

This passage at face value seems to indicate if we walk away we are eternally lost. If we deny Him, He will deny us. This means if we harden our hearts we can give back the gift of salvation correct?Let's take this passage as it was intended. It seems to be a stanza that Paul is reminding Timothy of. I believe we can discover the truth if we break it down verse by verse.

Eternal life

11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

This passage reveals our eternal life in Christ. When we get saved our old life is dead and we walk in newness of life in Christ. This is good news not bad.

Eternal rewards

12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

This is the controversial portion of this stanza. Notice what How I labeled this. I truly believe this passage isn't referring to our salvation or our eternal destination. After much study I am convinced this is talking about eternal rewards for following God.

In context Paul was admonishing Timothy to be a good soldier for Christ. He was encouraging the saints in Christ to be strong and not to quit under adversity. It is not about quitting your salvation but about not continuing in faith.

Now allow me to say the doctrine of eternal rewards is a Biblical principle. Now our salvation and growth is all by grace. It is not by one being better than the other. It is though, one who has chosen to allow the grace to grow inwardly and empower spiritual growth. This grace growth produces fruitful living. It produces the fruit of obedience and acts of service. No one can boast in Heaven.

James the first chapter refers to a crown of life for endurance. If we get mad and throw a spiritual "tantrum" whenever things don't work out the way we think they should, are we enduring or are we "quitting"? If people don't recognize our "labor" or "works" of service do we get mad and walk away or quit? Under persecution it is easy to give up. Paul was admonishing don't give up. I am convinced this is not talking about quitting your salvation.

Eternal security

13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Can you see the progression in this stanza? Our eternal life begins at salvation, our eternal rewards throughout our Christian life and the assurance and security of this great salvation. Now how does this portion even remotely agree with the idea that you can give your salvation back? It obviously doesn't. In context then how can we then interpret these three verses as referencing one who has walked away from their salvation? Even if one could "give it back"who says He would accept it? If we believe not He is faithful. He cannot deny Himself. Why does Paul use this phrase? Because once we accept the free gift of grace and receive the Lord we are adopted and the Lord lives within us in the person of the Holy Spirit. So how can God tell Himself I quit you? How can the new creation heart, with the agape love of God shed abroad within it, where the Spirit of God abides "harden" to the point of quitting and returning the gift of eternal life? It is an impossible equation. This verse proves this! Even if you say you quit He remains faithful. He is forever faithful. This is proven truth because the very faith we have to believe in Him and accept His free gift is His faith to begin with. Faith comes by hearing His Word. His Word like seed is planted in our hearts and harvests faith that we then respond with and receive the Lord Jesus in our life and heart. Again, how can His faith deny Him the author of our faith? How can the Author and Finisher of our faith lead us to a place where we reject Him? He authored our faith and He will finish it to completion presenting us faultless before the throne. The more we simply study the Word of God it becomes abundantly clear this salvation is completely secure in Him. We can't leave it or lose it. He is forever faithful. I trust this lesson has blessed you. May His grace grow big in you!

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. Hebrews 7:25We've been studying as of late concerning our eternally secure relationship with God. Now that we've covered the undeniable proof from the Word that we are in fact secure I would like to address the what about this passage or this verse objections. We've titled this series, "Loving it, leaving it, losing it". Now we will explore the leaving it portion. Some, will always resist God's goodness and overwhelming love and grace. They feel compelled to create a straw man argument that free will means we will reject and walk away from such love and grace. Does the Scripture actually support this? I think not. We will begin by tackling the biggest passage that most critics site. What about Hebrews 6?

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away,to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. Hebrews 6:4-8

Many cite this passage as proof that one can renounce faith in God. That they can just walk away from God. Is this really what this passage is referring to? Is this the main point God is making here? I think not.

The biggest concern with the traditional interpretation some have attributed to this passage is one word. That one word is the word impossible. Many state this passage proves that one can renounce their faith or that they can lose their salvation by some bad deed. Yet, when pressed about this view, most believe that the one who walks away or renounces their faith can at some point return to God. Yet it clearly states it is impossible to renew one to change. It is impossible to come back.

That doesn't sound like good news at all. That doesn't leave the sense of mercy or grace anywhere. If indeed, this is the right view, then if anyone walks away out of emotional turmoil or momentary grief they are lost forever. Why then do we see so many alter calls in churches to come back to God? Because the heart cries for mercy and grace. The mind and emotions, on the other hand pull for some sense of "getting even". That God avenges that old sinner for turning on Him. Thanks be to God this is not the right view.

Who is Hebrews written to?

The book of Hebrews was written to two types of Jewish people. Those who had received the Lord Jesus and were receiving much persecution from their fellow Jews. It also addresses those Jews who had heard the good news of the New Covenant and new life Jesus brings but have stopped short of receiving Him. These are they who are at a straight between two paths to follow. Follow through in faith and receive new life from the New Birth or stay with the system of law and sacrifice. In fact Jack Hayford's Bible handbook credits this as one major interpretation of this difficult passage. "Jews who stopped just short of faith in Christ". This is what I see Hebrews 6 is really talking about. Those who hear the truth and stop just short of salvation and turn away from God. I venture to say that many of us at one time have witnessed to someone and saw God tugging on their heart with His love and grace to receive the free gift of righteousness and yet they choose what is familiar and reject the free gift. That same one then never received the Lord and stayed in sin and reaped the consequence of rejecting new life in Him. I've seen this before. It is truly sad.

So who is it then that it is impossible to renew to change? If you dive further into this passage it actually interprets itself. Verses 7 and 8 talk about rain and herbs and bearing fruit. What, did the writer finish his thought and stop to teach on farming? No, it is all one thought. He is teaching that as rain waters the soil and it bears fruit so God's Word and love is poured out upon human hearts. One heart is fruitful and the other heart is unfruitful. What is the difference? The nature of the one receiving the Word reveals what the end result will be. So who falters and falls away? The one who hears the Word and not allowing the nature change to take place will fall away and not return.

If a field keeps harvesting faulty negative crops after it gets sufficient rain and sun then the soil is faulty. This perfectly illustrates the heart exposed to the light of God's love and grace and rain of His Spirit but has no resulting fruit. In other words it's not experienced a true nature change. So once again proof positive that a unchanged heart is what falters and falls away. The heart that has the nature change is what is eternally secure. I believe when we rightly divide the Word there is no more "scary" passages. It all reveals love and mercy and His grace. Even passages such as this. It reveals that if you choose to reject the free gift through the hardness of heart you will have what you chose. To summarize, this passage isn't addressed to a born again child of God. This is addressed to one who is hearing the Word of salvation and the sun and rain of the Spirit are shining and refreshing and the heart chooses to harden and not receive the goodness offered. To that heart which has chosen to reject forever this gift it is impossible to renew them to change. Knowing the Word brings life and freedom. Now go forth in confidence knowing your relationship is secure in grace.I trust this post has blessed you. May the Lord and His grace be with you this week.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. Hebrews 7:25We have been in a study entitled "Loving it, leaving it, losing it". Today I want to conclude the "loving it" portion of it. I have used the Word to offer proofs of our eternally secure relationship with God. I've shared five proofs so far and today I want to share proof six and seven. Let's proceed with some marvelous good news.The Word of God reveals something special about our relationship with the Father. We aren't just born again when we receive Him. We are also adopted into the family of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Romans 8:15-17We've been adopted. We've been made sons of God. We are in God's family. Most Christians rejoice that we aren't slaves but sons of God. However, if somebody blows it they immediately wish to put their sonship on the line. I believe Jesus Himself revealed great truth in His parable of the prodigal son, (read this account in Luke 15:11-32).

The prodigal left his father's house. He seemed to want the father's possessions just not his presence. In the midst of wild living he squandered all he had. What picture do we see of the father while this is taking place? He hasn't disowned his son. He is still his son. When the son returned wanting to become a slave, the father loved him, and restored him to his position as a son in the father's house. So it is with our Father God. No matter how deceived or rebellious a Christian is they are still God's children. So proof number six is that we are adopted into God's family. Once a son we are always a son. Some may say well we can renounce our sonship. We will be dealing with this more in the next article but suffice it to say this, in the natural you can change your name. You can move away, and even change your appearance. Yet you will always be a member by birth of your family. So it is with God. You will always be His child if you have received Him.As for our final proof let's look at Hebrews 9.With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Hebrews 9:12

By His blood we are redeemed forever. His blood has made us clean forever. We are pure in His sight. This is the final proof. We are cleansed by His precious blood. By His cleansing blood we are redeemed forever. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.Hebrews 1:3

Proof enough, He has made us clean and pure by His blood. Notice this is not just our past. He said sins plural. All sins. He has cleansed us and forgiven us past and present and future. We are forever secure in Him. Knowing we are cleansed and pure transforms our hearts desires. We pursue Him not lustful passions. Again, this is motivation for devotion to God. In review here is the seven proofs of our eternal security:It is God's will that none who come to Jesus will be lost.Jesus revealed this plan of salvation as a secure hope. None that come will he cast out.We are forever secure in our Father's hand and no one can take us out of His hands.We have the Spirit of God indwelling us as a guarantee of our eternal redemption.He forever makes intercession for us.We are adopted into the Family of God never to be abandoned. His blood has secured our eternal redemption. We are washed and cleansed by that same blood. I pray this portion of study has blessed you and encouraged you. I pray His loving hands comfort and guide you into success and victory this week.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:24-25 NKJVWe've been in a series concerning our eternal secure salvation in Christ. I titled it"Loving it, leaving it or losing it". Right now I'm teaching about loving our eternal salvation. I am revealing 7 proofs from the Word of God of our eternally secure salvation. Last article I posted about how by the Spirit indwelling God's people is the guarantee of our eternally secure position in Him. If you have the Spirit of God dwelling in you then you are guaranteed secure in Him. In the Old Covenant the prayer was don't take away your Spirit upon if I fail. In the New Covenant we don't just have the Spirit come upon us for ministry but we actually have Him abiding within us. He also said He will never leave us or forsake us. Today, I want to reveal the 5th proof of our eternal security. That is found in my opening text.

24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:24-25 NKJVHe lives to make intercession for us. Jesus is always praying for our faith and our sustained victory. It is a beautiful thought to know we are always on His mind. Think about that for a moment. How comforting is it to know when your friends and family tell you that they have been praying for you? Now, how much more comforting is it to know Jesus is praying for you? What a joy knowing that He is in agreement with you to have manifested victory and success in life, both spiritually and physically. This is key to help understand the Old Covenant. Before Jesus paid the price there was no one to take away the judgment of sin and wrongdoings. When Israel failed to keep the Covenant God longed for mercy but this covenant didn't allow for the mercy that we see in the New Covenant. Why? Did God have a sudden change of heart in the New? Of course not. He is always good. It was just in this time period the penalty of sin had to be carried out by temporal sacrifices. So when we see wrath and judgments being poured out in the Old Testament realize God wasn't a hateful, I am gonna get you, type God. He had no intercessor, no one to stand in the gap.This is why God raised up prophets and those to lead Israel. He had them intercede to avert judgment. Now in this New Covenant Jesus paid the price for all sin. He now intercedes for mercy and not judgment. Now I am not saying God is angry and wants to wipe out a nation or a people and Jesus looks at the Father and "calms" Him down. No, Jesus and the Father are in unity. They are in agreement. Jesus intercession is a remembrance of the finished work. When the enemy wants to accuse you of your sin Jesus intercedes on your behalf for you to put into remembrance the finished work. That you are the very righteousness of God in Him.So Jesus intercedes for us that our faith in the finished work fails not. That we don't fall from grace and return to dead works and trying to earn our salvation. That we rely on His grace and reality of our New Creation in Him. His intercession also helps us in times of temptation. When fleshly passions (policies of the Old man) rise up He is interceding that we recall we are dead to that junk. That we are a New Creature. That sin and bad habits aren't who we are. We don't enjoy sin or wicked pursuits. That is not our nature any longer. So when you feel the lies pulling you to go the other direction rest in His intercession for you. His faith never fails. So our fifth proof of our eternally secure position is He intercedes for us continually. What an exciting revelation to know! Rejoice in what He has done. He is good.I trust this post has blessed you and encouraged your walk with the Lord. I pray you are blessed more and more this week. Grow in grace.imagebylamnee/courtesyoffreedigitalphoto.net

Monday, November 10, 2014

Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. Hebrews 7:25I am back from a wonderful time away with family. I trust the guest blog by Daveda was a tremendous blessing. I know it was a joy to read it. We are continuing in our series "Loving it, leaving it, losing it". We have seen the beautiful and majestic Words of our Lord Jesus Christ. How comforting, how hopeful, how secure and loving and how revealing they are to us who've received Him. He guaranteed that those who trusted Him with a true heart of belief would never be lost or perish. This week I'd like to take a look at the Apostle Paul's Holy Spirit inspired words. As we study them we see just how God has guaranteed the Words of Jesus.While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 5:4-5 I want to direct you to Paul's words in verse five. He revealed the Holy Ghost was our guarantee of our body being resurrected in the end. In context he is offering comfort about saints that have passed on. Paul goes on to offer more comfort with the promise that to be absent from this present body is to be in the presence of our Father in Heaven. Yet even in this context Paul gives us an insight about our eternal security. He reveals the Spirit of God is our guarantee for eternal life. And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.Ephesians 1:13-14It doesn't get much clearer than this. The Spirit of God is the guarantee for eternal life in Him. What would be a good illustration for this in our present day? If you own a home or ever owned one or know someone that does you more than likely aware of the phrase earnest money. Earnest money is a type of payment one makes to "prove" or reveal intent that they wish to purchase a particular home. This is exactly what our Father did for us. As a down payment on our eternal life with Him He gave us His Spirit. The indwelling Spirit of God within you proves beyond doubt He will finish what He started in you. The Spirit is God's earnest deposit on your salvation that you will persevere until the end. The Holy Ghost on the inside produces the fruit that reveals your new nature. Now we have the fourth reason for our eternal security in Him. The Spirit is our God guarantee. To recap it's the Father's will to save us eternally. Secondly, Jesus was the one who first introduced this concept of our salvation. Thirdly, He promised we would be forever secure in His hands. We now have a stronger foundation for trusting Him for our eternally secure salvation. I trust this post has blessed you and encouraged you and motivated you for more devotion toward our loving good Father. I pray His goodness surrounds you this week. Blessing overtake you. In Him.photobyStuartMiles/courtestyoffreedigitalphoto.net

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

On a much needed vacation. Enjoy this amazing post by Daveda Schmidlin.

Forever

It's funny how life can take us spiraling in different directions. When I look back on my life I see a lot of places, a lot of pain and a lot of joy. I see a lot of bad decision as well as a lot of good ones. I see my life before I knew the Lord and I see my life after, yet one thing has always remained the same. God has always known me. He has always called me by my name and accepted me just as I am.

I believe I accepted Jesus into my heart as a little girl, four or five years old , maybe younger. I didn't truly come to know Him until I was in my early twenties though. I made a lot of bad choices in my life, I lived the consequences of my sin, yet God never took His hand off of me....

and when I was ready to hear Him, when I had come to the end of myself, He called my name and I responded to Him, this time, looking back only to see how His grace covered me.

It is true that sometimes people accept Jesus and then turn around and live a life that is not glorifying. Are they really saved? Do they really know Him? Only God knows the true condition of their hearts, so who can really be the judge of that?

What I do know is that once we are His, once He has given us a new Spirit, once we are grafted into Christ, He never lets go of us. No amount of bad choices, no amount of lies we believe, no amount of destructive behavior can change His eternal commitment to us, and that's what really matters.

God doesn't work in time as we do. He works through the eyes of eternity and once He calls us His own, we are His, forever.

"It is through Him that we have received grace (God’s unmerited favor) and [our] apostleship to promote obedience to the faithandmake disciples for His name’s sake among all the nations,6And this includes you, called of Jesus Christandinvited [as you are] to belong to Him." Romans 1:5-6

BIO: Daveda Schmidlin is a happy wife, mother, and grandmother. She is a speaker, teacher, author and former pastor who is passionate about the Gospel of Grace. Her message is sincere, encouraging, simple and profound. Her words will set people free from condemnation and will help usher them into a deeper revelation and understanding of God’s great love.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Therefore, because he always lives to intercede for them, he is able to save completelythose who come to God through him. Hebrews 7:25

Loving it, leaving it, losing it Part 2

In our last post we established the first proof of our eternally secure salvation. It is the will of God that our salvation be secure. Our salvation is not rooted in our obedience. It is not contingent upon our ability to keep ourselves upright and perfect. It is all based in Christ's perfect obedience. As I always seem to do, allow me to stress again this isn't a license to live in sin. This is a license however, to freely pursue a loving relationship with a loving Father. How much more fulfilling is a relationship when you realize you will never be discarded or rejected or denied because of a poor choice or misstep?

This is why I titled this series "Loving it, leaving it, losing it". If I can never be denied then I am in a loving relationship with God. I'm not even looking for ways that I would leave it. I am not fearful that I can lose it. It is such a freeing way to live in the Family of God.

With all the arguments and divisions about our eternally secure salvation let me bring forth a truth. It was Jesus who first instructed us that this salvation would indeed be eternal not temporal. Who is to blame for this teaching and emphasis on our eternal security? Is it the Baptist? Is it another denomination? No! Want to blame someone? Blame Jesus! Recall the passage we cited in our last post.

37 However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.40 For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:37-40

Jesus says it is God's will that not one will be lost who put their trust in Him. It was Jesus who first enlightened us of His Father's plan about our salvation. Our second proof of our eternal security then is it was Jesus who revealed it. Let's look at another passage in a couple of translations that reveals much about our eternal secure salvation.

you lack faith because you are not My sheep. My sheep respond as they hear My voice; I know them intimately, and they follow Me.I give them a life that is unceasing, and death will not have the last word. Nothing or no one can steal them from My hand. My Father has given the flock to Me, and He is superior to all beings and things. No one is powerful enough to snatch the flock from My Father’s hand. The Father and I are one. John 10:26-30 Voice

27‘My own sheep will hear My voice and I know each one, and they will follow Me.’ 28I give to them the gift of eternal life, and they will never be lost and no one has the power to snatch them out of My hands. 29My Father, who has given them to Me as His gift, is the mightiest of all, and no one has the power to snatch them from My Father’s care. 30 The Father and I are one.” John 10:26-30 Passion Translation

It doesn't get much clearer than this. We are promised again to never to be lost. We are also given a staggering promise. We are held firmly secure, forever in our Father's hand as well as in Jesus' hands. If we are in our Father's care, in His hands how can we ever fear losing our salvation? The third proof of our eternal security is that we are forever secured and protected in our Father's hands. There is no temptation, no onslaught of the enemy, no willingness to jump out that is more powerful than His protection and loving care.

What a wonderful promise from God to know we are protected and secure in His hands. Here is another thought. If we are protected from loss of salvation in His hands we are also protected from any scheme of the enemy to bring suffering, evil and sickness our way. Praise the Lord we are victorious because we are in His hands. Reflect on this truth the next time the enemy brings his lies your way.

I trust this message has blessed you and encouraged you in your relationship with the Lord. Let me say how much I appreciate you taking the time out to read this blog. I do pray and seek the Lord on what to write about. I truly want it to encourage and strengthen you. This week may His richest and best be yours.imagebyimagemajestic/courtesyoffreedigitalphoto.net

Friday, October 17, 2014

Therefore, because he always lives to intercede for them, he is able to save completelythose who come to God through him. Hebrews 7:25

We are going further into our study of our eternal redemption in Christ. We've been looking at this for the last few posts. So, yes, this is "that kind of blog" where we teach your salvation is secure by His grace not our perfect performance. What I don't understand is the amount of controversy this Bible based teaching generates.

Why fight the complete and finished work of our Savior? I have one clue (I guess because I used to be the strongest opponent of once saved always saved theology). What might that clue be? This idea that if you know your future sins are already forgiven and nothing can take you out of the Father's hands then what is to stop you from pursuing a sinful, selfish life?If you read the last four or five posts perhaps you could see the foundation I was establishing. People stop at the cross. They see the forgiveness He purchased and camp out there. So because of this they can't see the resurrection. They see how a sinner has been pardoned. Of course, if a criminal was simply pardoned then they would remain just that, a pardoned criminal. Too many see Christians as forgiven sinners only. If that was true then yes, it could be that some would pursue sin again after only receiving forgiveness. That is not what happened with us. We see from 2 Peter 1 that when we know how much we are forgiven we love much. The other vital truth that completes this revelation is the resurrection. That is after He rose and we received Him, we became partakers of that resurrection life. We are partakers of His divine nature. We are made new creatures. We are now those who rejoice knowing just how much we've been forgiven of and that we no longer live but Christ lives in us. We are new creations. When we realize this we won't pursue sin because that is not who we are. Rejoice then in the perfect and complete and totally secure salvation we have in Him.Having established this once again lets proceed to reveal what the Word says about our eternal security in Him. Over the next few posts I want to bring forth the witness of Jesus words, and Paul and even Peter from the Word of God proving beyond doubt our salvation is secure. So can we lose our salvation? Can we sin it away? Can we forfeit it? Can we give it back? Can we renounce it? Can we "walk away"? Let me say emphatically NO! NEVER! We are completely secure in Him. Now I am going to begin with Scripture proving we are secure and then answer all these objections to salvation that is secure.Lets begin today looking at Jesus words.37 However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.40 For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:37-40How can we argue with the eternal, once and for all, language Jesus is using to describe salvation? He clearly, concisely, and plainly states it is not God's will that any will be lost that come to Him. Now I understand just because God's will is something doesn't mean it is guaranteed to happen. For God's will is always healing and that no man perish but receive Him. Yet, many don't receive the healing God wills for them. Many still reject the gospel message.Does this mean their will is so strong to override God's plans? I am not suggesting that. At the same time, I do believe our will is part of the equation of receiving from Him. Though God will not override our free will, He will make His plans plain and clear. He will provide all that is necessary for His plans to come to pass. So the first proof of eternal security is that it is God's will. Knowing it's God's will removes doubts and fears and traditions from our minds. Now rest assured, God in His infinite wisdom and love knows just how to get His will accomplished in our lives. He has taken many steps and made provisions to ensure when we receive Him we will persevere and hold fast and remain in Him till the day of redemption. Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak will be done,” says the Lord God.’” Ezekiel 12:28What God desires will come to pass. You may ask what about healing? When we either pass from this life to Heaven or get caught up to meet Him in the air we will have a new body and perfect body. So healing manifests always. What about salvation? Am I a Universalist/inclusionist? No, what He promised and wills comes to pass as He said it would. He wants all to be saved. Yet not all will so He said what would happen if one rejects the offer of free grace. That will also come to pass as He said it would. Again I state then what God desires and decrees will come to pass. What is God's will then concerning eternal security? Jesus clearly said it is not His will that anyone will be lost who come to God. This is good news. We are saved and secure. We can rest and rejoice because this is God's revealed will for us. No tradition or doctrine or argument or debate can change God's will for us. We will continue looking at Jesus witness of our eternal security in our next post. I pray this refreshes your relationship with Christ. May His peace and strength be with you and His guidance lead you into all truths. Blessings to you. Thanks for reading and don't forget it's easy to sign up with your email so you won't miss any of these posts.